The Italian carrier strike group – centred on their flagship ITS Cavour – combined with that of Portsmouth-based HMS Prince of Wales as a force of some 21 warships, three submarines, 41 fast jets, 19 helicopters, ten patrol aircraft and 8,000 personnel operated in the Ionian Sea.
F-35B Lightning jets from both nations carried out flying operations day and night in the Mediterranean skies, while warships and submarines carried out essential training together, including anti-submarine warfare tactics in waters between Taranto and Sicily.
617 Squadron and 809 Naval Air Squadron are both deployed with their F-35 jets aboard Prince of Wales and were busy throughout the training – known as Med Strike – including carrying out training which saw ITS Cavour Deputy Air Wing Commander, Captain Gian Battista Molteni and 617’s Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander Joe Mason, work together in the Italian ship’s flying control centre.
“I am thrilled to work alongside my Italian colleagues and see how they control, launch and recover F-35s from the tower. We are stronger together, and combined training makes us more effective and more lethal for the future,” said Lieutenant Commander Joe Mason, Second in Command of 617 Squadron.
809 NAS’ Commanding Officer Commander Nick Smith added: “Ex Med Strike affords the opportunities to prove force integration both within the air and maritime domains, learn from one another’s approaches to carrier aviation, and demonstrate Carrier Strike capability within NATO.”
Exercise Med Strike was a collective test of the two-carrier force’s air defence skills – including fending off aerial drone attacks.
“Working together with allies is critical to what we do. We are stronger together, so we work hard to make our combined operations seamless,” said Captain Colin McGannity, who commands all in the air power in the UK Carrier Strike Group as Commander Air Group.
Meanwhile, Type 45 destroyer carried out a replenishment at sea with Norwegian tanker HNoMS Maud, transferring 300,000 litres of diesel.
HMS Richmond conducted gunnery training – keeping the ship sharp and accurate – while also taking part in various other serials during the ten-nation Med Strike.
Two Commando Merlin helicopters from 845 Naval Air Squadron flew to Palermo in Sicily to pick up Edward Llewellyn, the British Ambassador to Italy and San Marino, for a visit to Prince of Wales.
The Commando Helicopter Force aircraft also carried out flying operations in the Mediterranean, including sorties over Southern Italy.
The Carrier Strike Group is the Royal Navy’s key deployment of 2025.
Led by UK flagship HMS Prince of Wales and involving a dozen nations, the eight-month mission – known as Operation Highmast – will take the task group to the western Pacific Rim via the Mediterranean and Middle East with a series of large-scale exercises with Britain’s allies and partners.
The goal is to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to the security of the Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific region, demonstrate collective resolve with our allies and showcase British trade and industry.
Over the course of the deployment, upwards of 4,500 British military personnel will be involved, including nearly 600 RAF and 900 soldiers alongside 2,500 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines.
Source: Royal Navy.
